Consoled by this resolution,she was the better able to bear her husband's incivility;though it was very mortifying to know that her neighbours might all see Mr. Bingley, in consequence of it, before they did.As the day of his arrival drew near:
“'Tis an etiquette I despise,”said he.“If he wants our society,let him seek it.He knows where we live.I will not spend my hours in running after my neighbours every time they go away and come back again.'”
His wife represented to him how absolutely necessary such an attention would be from all the neighbouring gentlemen,on his returning to Netherfield.
The day of his and Lydia's departure soon came,and Mrs.Bennet was forced to submit to a separation,which,as her husband by no means entered into her scheme of their all going to Newcastle,was likely to continue at least a twelvemonth.
But the spiritless condition which this event threw her into was shortly relieved, and her mind opened again to the agitation of hope,by an article of news which then began to be in circulation. The housekeeper at Netherfield had received orders to prepare for the arrival of her master,who was coming down in a day or two,to shoot there for several weeks.Mrs.Bennet was quite in the fidgets.She looked at Jane,and smiled and shook her head by turns.